The mystery box opened with a soft click, and golden light spilled out like something from a treasure chest in a video game. I had to squint against the brightness as something materialized in my hands.
When the light faded, I was holding... a sign?
It was a beautiful wooden plaque, about the size of a dinner plate, with elegant characters carved into it that seemed to shimmer with a faint golden glow. The words read: "The Lazy Dragon Inn - All Guests Welcome."
"A sign?" I turned it over in my hands, examining it. "I cleaned for hours and nearly killed myself, and my bonus reward is a sign?"
[Beginner's Luck Sign (Epic Grade)]
[Effect: Attracts one guaranteed guest within 24 hours. Guest quality will match innkeeper's current level.]
[Additional Effect: Slight increase to inn's reputation in local area.]
[Note: First impressions matter, Host. Don't waste this opportunity.]
I stared at the description, then back at the sign. "Wait, this actually guarantees a customer? That's... that's actually pretty amazing."
My irritation evaporated instantly. A guaranteed guest meant guaranteed income, and more importantly, it meant I wouldn't be completely alone in this place. Sure, I'd been managing okay by myself for the past day, but the silence was starting to get to me.
I walked outside and hung the sign next to the front entrance. The moment I secured it to the wall, it began to emit that soft golden glow, visible even in the late afternoon sun.
"Fancy," I admitted. "Definitely eye-catching."
[Sign activated. Guest arrival estimated within 24 hours.]
[New Quest Available: First Customer]
[Objective: Successfully serve your first guest. Provide food, drink, and accommodation that meets their basic needs.]
[Reward: 200 System Points, Customer Service Skills (Advanced), Random Inn Upgrade]
[Failure: Negative review spreads, decreased reputation, possible financial penalty]
"No pressure or anything," I muttered, heading back inside. "Just need to serve my first customer perfectly with barely any supplies, limited cooking knowledge, and furniture that's held together by hope and prayer."
But despite my sarcasm, I felt a flutter of excitement in my chest. This was really happening. I was going to have an actual customer.
I spent the rest of the evening preparing as best I could. I cleaned one of the better guest rooms upstairs, the one with the least amount of problems. The bed was old but serviceable once I'd dusted it off and found some relatively clean sheets in a storage chest. The window actually closed properly, which was a bonus.
In the kitchen, I took stock of what I had to work with. The preserved vegetables, beans, some rice that I'd carefully sorted through to remove the bugs, the mysterious fish, and a few other odds and ends. Not exactly gourmet ingredients, but with my newly granted Basic Innkeeper Skills, I felt more confident about cooking something edible.
"Let's see what these skills can actually do," I said, pulling out ingredients.
The knowledge in my head activated almost instinctively. My hands moved with practiced efficiency as I prepared rice, seasoned the vegetables properly, and even managed to turn that suspicious dried fish into something that smelled surprisingly good.
Within an hour, I'd created a simple but respectable meal: steamed rice, stir-fried vegetables with a light sauce I'd improvised from the preserved ingredients, and grilled fish with herbs I'd found growing wild in the courtyard.
[You have created: Simple Traveler's Meal]
[Quality: Decent]
[Effect: Restores stamina, provides minor satisfaction boost]
"Decent!" I pumped my fist in victory. "That's way better than 'Terrible'! I'm moving up in the world!"
I plated the food carefully, trying to make it look as presentable as possible. Presentation mattered in hospitality I'd learned that during my part-time job. Even simple food could seem special if you treated it with care.
Satisfied with my preparations, I settled in behind the counter to wait. The sun was setting now, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. Through the open door, I could see the strange purple-leaved trees swaying in the breeze.
It was actually kind of beautiful.
"So this is my new life," I said quietly to the empty room. "Kazuki Yamamoto, innkeeper in a fantasy world. Could be worse, I guess."
[Host's attitude has improved. This is good for mental stability.]
"Are you actually monitoring my mental state?"
[The Supreme Innkeeper System cares about Host's wellbeing. A stressed innkeeper provides poor service.]
I wasn't sure if that was touching or creepy, so I decided not to think about it too hard.
Night fell, and I lit the lanterns I'd found and cleaned. The warm glow made the lobby look almost cozy. Almost. You could still see the water stains on the walls and the places where the paint was peeling, but in the dim light, it wasn't so obvious.
I was starting to doze off behind the counter when I heard it footsteps on the path outside.
My eyes snapped open, and I sat up straight, heart suddenly pounding. This was it. My first customer.
The footsteps grew closer, accompanied by what sounded like labored breathing. Someone was approaching the inn, and they sounded exhausted.
I quickly smoothed down my robes and put on what I hoped was a welcoming smile. My customer service training from the ryokan kicked in automatically shoulders back, friendly expression, ready to greet.
The door opened slowly, and a figure stumbled inside.
It was a young woman, probably around my age, maybe a bit younger. She had long black hair that was disheveled and covered in dust, and she wore travel-stained robes in shades of blue and white. Her face was pale with exhaustion, and she was breathing hard like she'd been running.
But what caught my attention most were her eyes a striking violet color that seemed to glow faintly in the lantern light.
She looked around the lobby with those unusual eyes, taking in the clean but shabby surroundings, before her gaze landed on me.
"Is this... is this an inn?" she asked, her voice soft but urgent.
"Yes!" I said, maybe a bit too enthusiastically. I cleared my throat and tried again with more composure. "Welcome to The Lazy Dragon Inn. I'm Kazuki Yamamoto, the innkeeper. How can I help you tonight?"
She sagged with visible relief, gripping the doorframe for support. "Thank the heavens. I've been traveling for two days straight. I need a room, food if you have it, and..." she glanced behind her nervously, "discretion."
That last word carried weight, and I noticed her hand resting on what looked like a sword hilt under her travel cloak.
[First Guest Identified: Mei Liang]
[Status: Exhausted, Injured (minor), Being Pursued]
[Warning: Guest is hiding significant information]
[Recommendation: Provide standard service. Do not ask unnecessary questions.]
My mind raced. She was being pursued? That complicated things. But the system's recommendation was clear provide service, don't pry.
I kept my expression professionally neutral. "Of course. Discretion is guaranteed for all guests of The Lazy Dragon Inn. Let me show you to your room, and I'll bring up a meal shortly."
The relief on her face was palpable. "Thank you. Truly. I can pay" she reached for a pouch at her belt.
"Payment in the morning is fine," I said, coming around the counter. "You look like you need rest more than I need your money right now."
It was a gamble, trusting her to actually pay, but something in my gut told me she was genuine. Plus, the system had identified her by name, which meant she was probably the guaranteed guest from the sign. Hopefully that meant this was supposed to work out.
She studied me for a moment with those violet eyes, as if trying to determine if I was trustworthy. Whatever she saw must have satisfied her because she nodded.
"You're kind, Innkeeper Kazuki. That's rare these days."
"Just doing my job," I said with what I hoped was a reassuring smile. "Now come on, let's get you settled. And please, just call me Kazuki."
As I led her toward the stairs, I couldn't help but think: my first customer was a mysterious woman with glowing violet eyes who was being pursued by unknown enemies.
My new life was getting interesting fast.
[End of Chapter 3]